Brake operating mechanism



July 21, 1936. c. w. GALLAHER, JR

BRAKE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 26, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor@2725 W kllak e2; 1 By 0620.

ly 2 1936- c. w. GALLAHERY JR 2,048,254.

BRAKE OPERATING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1953 InventorPatented July 21, 1936 Application October 26, 1933, Serial No. 695,350

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in brakeoperating mechanisms for vehicles having front and rear wheel brakes,and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafterset forth, a mechanism of this character embodying a novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts through the medium of whichautomatic equalizing or balancing of the force which is applied to thebrakes on the different wheels will be accomplished.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide, in a brakemechanism of the type including a pair of transverse rocker shafts,novel means for floatingly mounting said shafts between the front andrear brakes to equalize the pressure therebetween.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a brake operatingmechanism for vehicles which will be comparatively simple inconstruction. strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable inoperation and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

7 All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation of a brake operating mechanism inaccordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in top plan thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail view in side elevation of one of the swingingrocker shaft hangers.

Figure 4 is a view in vertical transverse section, taken substantiallyon the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail view in top plan of the equalizer bar. 7

Referringnow to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprisesa pair of yokes I which are rigidly secured to the cross member 2 whichextends between the longitudinal members 3 of the vehicle frame.

Mounted for rotary movement in a horizontal plane in the yokes I arebearing blocks 4 in which transverse rocker shafts 5 are journaled. The

bearing blocks 4 are adjustably mounted in the nuts 1. The outer ends ofthe rocker shafts 5 are journaled in. swinging hangers 8 which dependfrom the longitudinal side members 3 of the vehicle frame. It will thusbe seen that the rocker shafts 5 are mounted for swinging movement in a5 horizontal plane.

Fixed on the inner end portions of the rocker shafts 5 are upwardly andoutwardly extending levers 9 having opposed sockets ID on their freeends which are substantially in alignment with 10 the axes of thebearings 4. The sockets I0 are for the reception of ball heads H on theends of an equalizer bar l2. A rod l3, from the service brake pedal M ofthe vehicle, is pivotally connected to the center of the equalizer bar[2. 15

Fixed on the outer end portions of the rocker shafts 5 are T-heads IE,to one end of which the rear brake rods l6 are pivotally connected andto the other ends of which the front brake rods I? are pivotallyconnected. 20

When the service brake pedal 14 of the vehicle is depressed, the rockershafts 5 are actuated 1 through the medium of the equalizer bar I2 andthe levers 9 in a direction to pull the rear brake rods l6 forwardly andthe front brake rods ll 25 rearwardly to apply the brakes of thevehicle, as will be understood. The mountings of the rocker shafts 5permit said rocker shafts to float between the front and rear brakes ina manner to equalize the pressure therebetween. In this 30 connection,it may be well to here invite attention to the fact that the rockershafts 5 are journaled loosely enough in the hangers 8 to permitswinging movement of said hangers. Of course, the bar l2 equalizes thepressure between 5 the rocker shafts 5. The connection of the equalizerbar l2 with the levers 9 in alignment with the axes upon which therocker shafts 5 swing prevents forward pull on the inner ends of saidrocker shafts by the service pedal I4. 40

It is believed that the many advantages of a brake operating mechanismin accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, andalthough the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated anddescribed, it is 45 to be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may beresorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed. 50

What is claimed is:-

In a vehicle including a frame and front and rear wheel brakes, a pairof transversely alined brackets carried by the frame and having yokes attheir lower ends located below the frame, each yoke having '7 upper andlower horizontally ar-.

block supportedlfor rotary movement by each pair of bolts, each blockhaving upper and lower recesses therein for receiving the inner ends ofthe bolts,'a pair of rocker shafts journaled at intermediate points insaidblocks with the inner ends of the shafts extending an' appreciabledistance from the blocks, levers attached at their lower ends to theinner ends of the shafts, said levers curving upwardly and outwardly andhaving their upper ends in substantial vertical I alinement withthe'pairs of bolts, horizontally arranged opposed sockets on the upperends of 7 said levers, an equalizer bar having ball ends engaged in thesockets, means for actuating the equalizer bar, hangers pivotallyconnected at their upper ends to the side members of the frame andextending below the frame, the outer end portions of the rocker shaftsbeing journaled in the lower ends of said hangers, T-shaped heads fixedon the outer ends of the rocker shafts, and

CYRUS 'WILEY GALLAHER,'JR. v

rods connecting'the ends of said heads with the 7 front and rear brakes.

